Teacher Programs

Whether in the galleries or in the classroom, the Museum offers a variety of programs, workshops, resources, and classes for teachers of all subjects and grade levels. New programs will be added soon for the spring semester, be sure to check back for more offerings.

To register for Teacher Workshops and VAST, call the Museum's Ticket Center at 215-235-7469 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or stop by any Visitor Services Desk during Museum hours, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. There is a service charge of $3.50 ($2.50 for Museum members). There is no service charge for tickets purchased at the Museum.

Educator Discount

K-12 Educators—we’ve got an offer just for you!

Save $30 on the membership of your choice (Member through Patron levels). You’ll enjoy a year of free access to the Museum, invites to members-only events, $10 guest passes, and discounts on programs, dining, and shopping. And don’t forget about all our fabulous teacher resources.

Offer valid in person at the Museum or by calling 215-684-7840. Teacher ID required.

Teacher Workshops

The Museum is dedicated to creative learning for teachers as well as students.
Art ignites curiosity, fosters critical-thinking skills, and presents challenging,
interdisciplinary, and engaging learning environments. In an effort to support arts
integration in all classrooms, the Museum offers a wide variety of teacher resources
and professional development experiences for educators of all subject areas.
The Museum is an approved Art 48/continuing professional development provider
for both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Check each workshop description to see
how many credit hours are available. Reservations must be made in advance for all workshops.

The PMA's renowned South Asian Galleries have been completely transformed. Explore the art, stories, and diverse cultures of this vast area stretching from Tibet and Nepal through India and even to Iran, Thailand, and Cambodia through powerful artworks, dynamic displays, and digital interactives. This introduction to the new installation will begin with a lecture by Darielle Mason, The Stella Kramrisch Curator of Indian and Himalayan Art. Then participate in tours, activities, and resource demonstrations with museum staff who will model strategies for encouraging students to look, think, connect and respond to these extraordinary works of art. ​

All participants will receive the brand new teacher guide to the South Asian Collection.

This President's Day, commemorate the 100th anniversary of the PMA's Ceremonial Teahouse, designed by architect Ōgi Rodō in 1917, with a full day exploring the history and art of the Japanese tea ceremony. Our morning will begin with a presentation by Felice Fischer, The Luther W. Brady Curator of Japanese Art and Senior Curator of East Asian Art, and include a tea ceremony demonstration in the Teahouse gallery. In the afternoon, make your own ceramic tea bowl with teachers from the Clay Studio to take back to your classroom.​

If you teach students with special needs, an art museum experience can seem intimidating. This workshop highlights art as an inclusive language and the Art Museum as a space that welcomes everyone. Join museum educators and art educators to learn strategies for using art in the gallery and the classroom to engage students with a wide range of abilities.

This workshop is offered in conjunction with the Free Library's One Book, One Philadelphia program. Their 2017 selection of Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time celebrates diverse learning abilities.

VAST - Visual Arts as Sources for Teaching

Each summer the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s Education department offers K–12 teachers of all subject areas the chance to immerse themselves in the Museum’s collections and explore the special nature of art and its use as a classroom resource.

VAST is generously supported by the The Dolfinger-McMahon and Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundations.

In-Service Workshops—at School or at the Museum

Explore how the arts can be a resource for teaching and learning. In-service
workshops can take place at the Museum or at your school. Schedule a
workshop that demonstrates how the arts can support Common Core
Standards, how our online and print teaching resources can enrich social
studies, language arts, and math curriculum, or request a customized
workshop that fits your particular needs.

Art and Language Arts

Art is a natural prompt for writing: it provides visual learners with inspiration, struggling writers with a subject, and all students with an opportunity for reflection and personal connections. In this workshop, teachers will participate in a variety of model writing activities drawn from the PMA’s teacher resource Looking to Write, Writing to Look. These activities include narrative, descriptive, expository, and persuasive writing, as well as poetry and can be adapted to a variety of grade levels and any work of art.

Looking Closely, Thinking Critically

Art is a powerful tool for developing critical thinking skills. When we closely observe and thoughtfully respond to art, we make informed interpretations based on visual evidence. As we share our thoughts and observations with others, we consider alternative viewpoints and revise our thinking. In this workshop, teachers will take part in questioning strategies and activities designed to elevate the level of students’ thought and analysis.

Art as a Primary Source

Reading a work of art as a primary source can teach students to analyze tone and bias more clearly than a document. The use of images also engages students who struggle with lengthy or challenging texts. In this workshop, teachers will practice a step-by-step process for observing, interpreting, connecting to context, and drawing conclusions about what an artwork has to say about a moment in history.

Special Exhibition Preview

Is there a new exhibition at the PMA that you’re excited about? Select from our list of exhibition tours available for students and work with a museum educator to explore the possibilities for integrating the content and related resources into your teaching.

Workshop Fees

At the Museum
Workshops for Philadelphia public and charter schools Free
Self-guided group visit $12 per teacher
2-hour workshop for each group of up to 15 teachers $300
3-hour workshop for each group of up to 15 teachers $400

These are the fees for our recommended workshop themes, customized for your audience. Add a presentation about the Wachovia Education Resource Center at no additional charge.

At Your School
Free for Philadelphia public and charter schools
Within 25 miles: $350 for 2 hours, $450 for 3 hours for up to 30 teachers
Within 50 miles: $400 for 2 hours, $500 for 3 hours for up to 30 teachers
Within 100 miles: $550 for 2 hours, $650 for 3 hours for up to 30 teachers

These are the fees for our recommended workshop themes, customized for your audience. We can also include an introduction to the many PMA resources -- including bus funding, online teaching materials, and access to the ArtStor database of high-resolution images -- at no additional charge.

Additional Fees

Request a new workshop theme: add $100

Studio activity (as studio space allows): $50 for each group of up to 15 teachers

Non-alcoholic food and beverage can be arranged through PMA Conference Dining for an additional charge. Menus available by request.

For more information, please contact The Division of Education by phone at 215-684-7580, by fax at 215-236-4063, or by e-mail at .